Chapter 6 — A Special Activity
Chapter 6 — A Special Activity
Translation: Godtl
The psychology of wanting to play the older sister role surged up strongly.
She could think somewhat like an adult thanks to her past life memories, but as a seven-year-old body, there were limits.
Ultimately, Lelia was also an unavoidable child. A young child wanting to play the older sister or brother role.
'No matter what, he wouldn't kill me, right? I should treat him as best as I can....'
Unaware of what determination Lelia was making internally, Oscar smiled brightly with tears still at the corners of his eyes.
"I th-thought you hated me too."
"...."
That smile was so clear and pretty that Lelia momentarily stopped breathing. Exactly like a winter fairy.
"D-do you perhaps... hate it...?"
When Lelia didn't answer, Oscar asked anxiously.
"No? How could that be? I don't hate you at all."
At the definite answer, Oscar smiled as if embarrassed.
'Right, well. If you like it, that's fine....'
But right now. Is this okay?
Lelia blinked blankly for a moment.
'People's lives are unpredictable, but....'
And so somehow... she ended up making two future heroes who would defeat the Mad Dragon into her subordinates.
'Well... two should be fine.'
It'll be fine....
After that day.
Lelia started taking Oscar on her left and Romeo on her right.
The other children glanced at them with curious eyes as the two called Lelia"Captain."
The priests once called Oscar and Romeo over and asked, "By any chance... has His Highness Crown Prince Leo of Auraria ever struck you two?" which caused some awkwardness.
Fortunately, Lelia was soon cleared of the false accusation.
The two children had proven Lelia's innocence.
Thus passed days that were peaceful yet not quite peaceful.
The time for that "certain activity" Lelia was reluctant about approached.
The Temple in particular intended to deepen the children's friendship, and this "special activity" was devised for that purpose.
However, this activity had some problems.
'These crazy bastards. Why on earth do they do this sort of thing? Even to children this young?'
The priests explained it as"an activity to defeat the demons that seek to invade your hearts."
In short, it was to eliminate the fear of demons.
'It's just a courage test, isn't it.'
Irritation welled up, but since Lelia was in a position where she had to behave herself, she couldn't even complain.
And with all the other children accepting it quietly, she couldn't very well be the only one to say she wouldn't do it.
'Even if I speak up, that won't stop them from proceeding.'
Everything was happening with the guardians' permission. No matter that she was the Crown Prince, once the Emperor had granted permission, a ten-year-old's opinion held no weight.
The children were excited, saying they would now be able to fight demons. They were unmistakably like lower elementary school students.
'Certainly in the novel...'
Lelia couldn't be purely delighted like the other children, but she simply accepted it calmly.
However, she was carefully recalling one incident she had seen in the original work.
And that night.
"Captain, there really aren't any demons, right?"
Romeo, standing to Lelia's right, asked. He looked anxiously at the darkening sky.
"There aren't."
"Really? Then the priests are lying?"
"Just, well. It's not so much lying... those people believe they exist. I think they don't. If you think they don't exist, then they don't. So you should just think they don't exist instead of being scared."
"...So everything happens the way you think?"
"Romeo. The world is just like that. You only see what's in your eyes. Everything will turn out well. If you think that way, things usually work out. But if you think 'Ah, I'm doomed! 'then that's what happens."
"......"
"Of course that's not always the case. But thinking this way at least puts your mind at ease. So you should choose the path that at least makes you feel comfortable."
"I don't understand what you're saying at all."
Romeo's eyes seemed to say' stop spouting nonsense.' Lelia shook her head back and forth.
'Was that too much of an adult thing to say?'
This, this. I must have been too mature.
While Lelia was immersed in her own maturity, Oscar who had been standing on the left spoke up.
"I-I'm not scared of demons. I-I think they don't exist."
"You too, right? Did you hear that, Romeo?"
"...Yeah."
Romeo frowned as he looked at Oscar.
'If that pathetic coward bastard isn't afraid of demons, then I don't need to be afraid either.'
That was what Romeo was thinking.
But Oscar had a different reason for not believing in demons.
It was because he knew something even scarier than demons. His own father.
"See, I'm telling you to go in pairs, so tomorrow you two go together."
"Then what about you, Captain?"
"Me? Obviously I'm going alone."
At Lelia's confident words, the two widened their eyes.
"W-will you be okay?"
"Of course. That's why you two can do it too."
Lelia patted the two on their backs.
"C-Captain, aren't you scared of the d-dark?"
"Why would I be scared of the dark? I'm not scared at all."
At Lelia's confident answer, Oscar sent an admiring look. However, Romeo didn't easily believe it. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Lelia.
"Children. There are many things in this world scarier than the dark night."
Like being hungry... and also being hungry...
How many years had she spent alone in that deserted tower at the edge of nowhere. There was no way she'd be afraid of mere darkness.
Lelia's greatest fear was hunger.
"Anyway, you two go."
"...Understood."
"Yeah, Captain."
The two answered as if they had no choice at Lelia's words.
It was a good opportunity since these two might get closer at this chance.
'I don't know if it will proceed tomorrow though...'
The probability of it not proceeding was probably higher. Still, this act wouldn't disappear entirely. The priests would just be more careful.
Tomorrow was the turn for the group Lelia belonged to.
Today they had come to watch the other groups set off.
'Above all, I need to prevent the accident that will happen today.'
Among those belonging to the group departing today, there were people Lelia knew.
One of them was Kalix Ascard.
Lelia looked at Kalix visible in the distance.
"Captain, we've seen enough, so let's go back."
"I have something to say to the priests, so you go ahead. You can go to my room and play."
"Alright, got it."
At Lelia's words, Romeo jerked his chin at Oscar. Oscar, who hesitated for a moment, followed him.
He glanced back at Lelia but, reassured by her words that she'd follow soon, he turned back.
Lelia stood in the corner with a serious expression then approached a priest.
Actually, this courage test prepared by the priests was a tradition consistently performed when young priests entered the temple.
Their logic was 'To eliminate fear of demons, one must erase fear of darkness. 'That's why they make them climb the mountain late at night.
The mountain in question was a small mountain behind the temple.
Actually, calling it a small mountain, it was an enormous distance for children. So the priests had prepared a destination around the middle at a lower point.
All they had to do was arrive at a small cabin in the middle, light a candle which was a ritual to purify demons, then return.
Those departing always went in pairs of two.
It was killing two birds with one stone for the priests teaching the young priests - they could cultivate cooperation and friendship between two people, and also eliminate fear of demons.
The mountain path was very narrow, but there was no danger at all.
It was a mountain priests climbed every day, and only small animals like rabbits and squirrels lived there.
'Until this morning, no, until now that would be true.'
But Lelia knew.
Tonight, someone was going to make a beast appear intentionally to harm a child.
"Priest."
"Oh, Crown Prince Leo. What brings you here? Your turn should be tomorrow."
"I wanted to see it in advance. But is there really nothing dangerous?"
"Yes, of course. This is a mountain priests climb every day. Please don't worry too much."
The priest spoke as if finding Lelia cute, treating her like a coward.
Lelia chewed her lips.
There must have been an implicit agreement between the high-ranking priest and someone about what would happen today.
'Then what should I do?'
Even if she said a beast would appear, no one would believe it. Rather, there was a high possibility of being noticed by the people who planned this.
'Then the Emperor who sent me might find out.'
It was a dilemma.
She wanted to solve this maturely and cleverly. But with a seven-year-old's body, she couldn't agonize over difficult and deep concerns for long.
Because of that, no method came to mind at all. It was just frustrating.
'How can I stop it.'
Honestly speaking, she could just ignore it.
No matter what happens to characters in a novel, Lelia could just look after her own life and let the rest flow as the original story intended...
But...
'A child's life is going to be ruined, how can I just watch when I know!'
Lelia chewed her lips anxiously, then put her hand in her pocket and fiddled with something she had stolen in advance.
It was a whistle used by the priests.
'Can't be helped. Let's just face it head on.'
The sky grew dark, and the last turn came.
The last to depart were Kalix and Griffith. Both were children who would become heroes who defeat the Mad Dragon.
After the last two departed, Lelia followed them secretly while the priests were slacking off.